“Well, shall we?” Zeke held open the door of the cab and waited expectantly.
Her gaze reluctantly moved from his muscled frame to his face. His attractiveness was unmistakable. He sported a short, very neat beard, which, along with his chiseled jawline, gave him a roguish look. He had a naturally tanned, mountain man kind of look that made her knees go weak. His dark blonde hair was thick and lustrous and was neatly combed back. She could imagine his drool worthy hands running through it often. His eyes were mesmerizing as he returned her gaze from under heavy eyebrows. For the first time, he didn’t have a playful grin on his full lips but his mouth was drawn into a hard line at her hesitation. She licked her lips. She could almost feel those soft lips brushing against her own.
“Very well,” she said as she got into the cab.
“Move over, snip.”
She shuffled over quickly and frantically pulled her skirt down over her knees as it shifted higher up her legs. Her wobbling thunder thighs were the last thing she wanted him to see.
“Pity,” he rasped with his eyes on her legs just as she managed to cover them.
To save her from further embarrassment, she pretended not to hear and stared out of the window.
“Are you going to tell me your name, little one?”
“Miss Banks,” she said shortly.
“Hmm,” he watched her with a teasing smile. “Your parents weren’t very inventive when it came to naming you, were they? I can imagine it must be rather confusing in a crowd if someone calls you Miss and all the women respond to it.”
Her head swung sideways to shoot a razor-sharp glare at him. “Since our association is coming to an end tomorrow in Key West, I don’t see the need to be anything else but formal and polite with each other.”
“Dinner is going to be a stiff affair if I have to call you Miss the entire evening.”
“We’re having a meal together, Mr. Rothman, which I daresay will be over in an hour, therefore I—”
“So, you know who I am.” Zeke felt deflated. He never became involved or dated a woman who showed interest in him because of his fame as an actor. It was a lesson he’d learned on his eighteenth birthday. That this woman, however snippy and intriguing, was in that category was a disappointment he was tempted to ignore for the first time.
“You’re a household name among every American family, Mr. Rothman. Unfortunately, I can’t say that I’ve seen any of your movies. I’m not into science fiction and don’t bother with it.” She shrugged. “Personally, I don’t fangirl over celebrities.” She shrugged again negligently. “Apart from their acting ability, they’re as much a normal human being as I am.”
“That’s a relief.”
“And why is that?”
“In case you missed the tabloid announcements, I’m no longer a celebrity, Miss. The Rothman cousins gave up acting in favor of living a normal life.”
Her lips fell open as she gaped at him. How the devil did she miss that? It was incomprehensible that actors as successful and popular as the Rothmans would retire at such an early stage. Even the older ones among them still had many years of acting left in them.
“You’re kidding, right?”
“I have no reason to lie, little one.”
The smile on his face was one of wicked satisfaction as he returned her disbelieving look. It pleased him to no end that she wasn’t aware of their retirement. It proved that she wasn’t in awe of his celebrity status.
The entire dynamics of their relationship changed within a blink of an eye.
Zeke didn’t bother to correct himself. He’d been searching for the one woman who would knock his feet out from under him—like this little snip had done the moment she’d turned those baby blues on him.
Oh, yes, Miss Banks, your fate is sealed. You’re mine and I’ll make damn sure you know it before we leave in the morning.
Chapter Two
“You’re playing with fire, Taylor,” she mumbled under her breath as she left the elevator of the posh Residence Inn Hotel not too far from the airport. She looked around searching for Zeke, who had courteously left the apartment to allow her time to get dressed in peace. She was still irked that he knew his presence unsettled her.
“It’s too late to complain. I should’ve just walked out of the hotel the moment we arrived.”
She’d been suspicious upon arrival to find they had no rooms available, but then again, how could Zeke have known they’d be fully booked with government officials attending a week-long seminar at the Pentagon? Her mind drifted back at how easily he’d swayed her.
“I’m in one of the penthouse apartments, which has four bedrooms, each with their own bathroom. It’s silly to look for a different hotel. There’s no reason why you can’t stay with me. It has a gorgeous view and is big enough so we won’t get in each other’s way.” He held up his hand when she tried to protest. “I promise to be the perfect gentleman.”
Taylor couldn’t deny it would seem immature to deny the offer, especially since the receptionist was watching them with an animated expression. She’d given in, shaken at her own thoughts that she didn’t want him to act like the perfect gentleman.
“Ah, there you are.”
Zeke’s deep voice yanked her back to the present and she spun around to face him. He’d changed into formal black pants, a pristine white shirt, and leather jacket. He looked good enough to eat … and fuck.
Yep! Definitely to fuck.
Behave Taylor.
His eyes skimmed over her. She shifted her weight from one leg to the other under his intense scrutiny. When she’d critically regarded herself in the mirror, she’d been happy with the long sleeve dark purple dress that hugged her ample curves before it ended just below her knees. The black peep toe pumps gave her the added height she needed to pull off such a tight dress and not look like a stuffed sausage. She had been comfortable with being overweight for years but it was the first time she desired to be something different—sexy and firm, with model curves.
It discombobulated her that he had such an effect on her. She was who she was and it had always been her motto: Accept her for that or hit the road. Why, then, did she suddenly wish she didn’t have such a demanding palette for chips, chocolates, and sugary donuts?
“You look very chic, Miss.”
Taylor rolled her eyes and froze when a dark growl from his lips combed over her. The warning was clear and reeked of a Dominant’s reaction to a bratty sub. She forced her hands to remain by her sides, even though her biceps burned to move them behind her back in a submissive stance.
She’d been in the BDSM lifestyle for a couple of years. Not that she was very active as such but she was a member at an upmarket club in Seattle, which she visited once or twice a month. He was the first man who triggered the natural submissive inside her to immediate attention—without even trying. She wasn’t sure if she relished in it or resented it.
It was disconcerting to say the least.
“My name is Taylor,” she said in defense of her childish action.
“Hmm.” His eyes narrowed as he stared at her thoughtfully. “Taylor Banks … sounds very familiar but I can’t place it at the moment.” He took a step closer and held out his elbow in a cordial gesture. “Shall we?”